S. Jennings: Time to have an honest conversation about the consequences of pampering mental illness

Amid the growing debate over violence in the United States, Scott Jennings has raised a reflection that many in politics prefer to avoid: the dangerous consequence of turning mental illness into an untouchable subject, often even encouraged, rather than addressed with honesty and responsibility. Jennings points out that behind some of the most tragic and violent acts the country has experienced, what we find is not only a problem of firearms but a context where individuals with severe mental disorders were incentivized or neglected by the very institutions that should have taken care of them.

The first question, as Jennings rightly frames it, is clear: why did it happen? It is not just about blaming guns or demanding more control over them, but about facing the real root of the issue. Modern culture has adopted a permissive stance toward certain behaviors and diagnoses that, instead of being treated, are celebrated as unshakable identities. This dangerous mix of cultural indulgence and governmental irresponsibility is creating fertile ground for tragedies that are later weaponized politically.

When we examine the writings left behind by perpetrators, the materials they consumed, the weapons they acquired, and the digital trail they left, it is evident that they were in a deeply deteriorated mental state. The most troubling part is not only that the government failed to identify these danger signs but that, in many cases, even their families chose to remain silent or look the other way. This is a problem that will not be solved with politically correct speeches but with a cultural shift that places mental health and personal responsibility back at the forefront.

Jennings goes further and asks the key question: what about those who are not mentally ill? The problem of gun violence is not reduced to a single factor, but in recent cases, there is a clear pattern where mental illness plays a significant role. Meanwhile, the political left insists on blaming gun ownership alone, using every tragedy as an excuse to push for more restrictions on law-abiding citizens, while ignoring the true root of the issue.

The truth is that America today faces a dual challenge. On one hand, upholding its commitment to the Second Amendment and the right of citizens to defend themselves. On the other, confronting the mental health crisis that has been fostered by cultural victimization policies and by a system that has failed to hold individuals accountable and provide effective treatments. We cannot continue blaming guns alone when the real issue lies in the glorification of psychological weakness, the lack of early intervention, and the “anything goes” culture promoted by progressive sectors.

The honest conversation Jennings calls for is uncomfortable for many, because it forces us to recognize that violence is not solved with more restrictions on law-abiding citizens but with bold decisions that break through the politically correct narrative. Indulgence toward mental illness is not compassion; it is abandonment. And the longer the country delays facing this reality, the more tragedies will be used as ideological fuel instead of being prevented with firm measures.

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